SKYWAY, Wash. - Two women who were asleep inside a burning home Thursday morning escaped safely thanks to two neighbors.

Fire investigators say an overheated space heater in the garage started the fire around 12:30 a.m. Flames then spread to the home where two women, 63 and 73, were sound asleep.

Luckily, one block away, Diane Berniard and her bother Clabon smelled smoke. Their mom thought it was coming from a chimney, but when Diane opened their front door, they spotted the flames.

The brother and sister called 911 then ran to the house and banged on the door to wake up the women.

"Started beating on doors and windows, and the lady was hollering wanting to know who we are and we said 'get out, the house is on fire,'" said Diane.

The woman who woke up to the noise was dazed, but managed to run back in and wake up her friend.

"They were taking a long time and flames starting coming from the roof," said Clabon.

As they heard glass exploding, the brother and sister pulled the women away from the billowing smoke.

The women made it out OK, but by the time firefighters arrived at the house in the 6200 block of South 116th Street, the house was engulfed in flames. Charred photographs and books litter their front lawn. Damage to the home was estimated at $300,000.

Fire department spokesman David Nelson said firefighters had to fight the blaze from the outside due to the danger of the roof collapsing.

One of the women who was inside the house when the fire broke out was taken to Valley Medical Center to be treated for smoke inhalation. She was listed in stable condition.

Diane and Clabon say they know exactly what it's like to lose everything you own. They moved to the neighborhood from New Orleans last year.

They've rebuilt their lives after Katrina, but they fear their neighbors may have a tougher time.

"It's harder for these women to start over because they're older, said Diane.

One of the women came to their rescuers' house and thanked them over and over, calling them her angels. The fire department plans give the two a bravery award next week.

"If you would have seen the fire you would have done the same anybody can knock on the door," said Clabon.